scholarly journals 41DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE ACROSS A MULTI-ETHNIC COHORT OF OLDER ADULTS: INSIGHTS FROM THE HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH INITIATIVE

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. ii11-ii13 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Mossop ◽  
A Granic ◽  
A A Sayer ◽  
G Engstrom ◽  
K Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Research Initiative

scholarly journals Safe, Affordable, Convenient: Environmental Features of Malls and Other Public Spaces Used by Older Adults for Walking

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane K. King ◽  
Peg Allen ◽  
Dina L. Jones ◽  
David X. Marquez ◽  
David R. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
Control And Prevention

Background:Midlife and older adults use shopping malls for walking, but little research has examined mall characteristics that contribute to their walkability.Methods:We used modified versions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) Environmental Audit and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) tool to systematically observe 443 walkers in 10 shopping malls. We also observed 87 walkers in 6 community-based nonmall/nongym venues where older adults routinely walked for physical activity.Results:All venues had public transit stops and accessible parking. All malls and 67% of nonmalls had wayfinding aids, and most venues (81%) had an established circuitous walking route and clean, well-maintained public restrooms (94%). All venues had level floor surfaces, and one-half had benches along the walking route. Venues varied in hours of access, programming, tripping hazards, traffic control near entrances, and lighting.Conclusions:Despite diversity in location, size, and purpose, the mall and nonmall venues audited shared numerous environmental features known to promote walking in older adults and few barriers to walking. Future research should consider programmatic features and outreach strategies to expand the use of malls and other suitable public spaces for walking.

scholarly journals Relationship between Physical Performance and Frailty Syndrome in Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Physical Activity, Sedentary Time and Body Composition

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Irene Rodríguez-Gómez ◽  
Asier Mañas ◽  
José Losa-Reyna ◽  
Luis M. Alegre ◽  
Leocadio Rodríguez-Mañas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Index ◽  
The Relationship

The objectives were to clarify whether the relationship between physical performance and frailty was independently and jointly mediated by movement behaviors and body composition. We analyzed 871 older adults (476 women) from The Toledo Study for Healthy Aging. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and fat index (FI) were determined using bone densitometry. Sedentary time (ST) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed using accelerometry. The Frailty Trait Scale and The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were used to evaluate frailty and physical performance, respectively. Simple and multiple mediation analyses were carried out to determine the role of movement behaviors and body composition, adjusted for potential confounders. ST and MVPA acted independently as mediators in the relationship between SPPB and frailty (0.06% for ST and 16.89% for MVPA). FI also acted as an independent mediator in the same relationship (36.47%), while the mediation role of SMI was not significant. MVPA and FI both acted jointly as mediators in this previous relationship explaining 58.15% of the model. Our data support the fact that interventions should simultaneously encourage the promotion of MVPA and strategies to decrease the FI in order to prevent or treat frailty through physical performance improvement.

scholarly journals PROMOTING OLDER ADULTS’ INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND MOTIVATION TO REGULAR EXERCISE THROUGH EXERGAMING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S140-S141
Author(s):  
Jinhui Li ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Bing Xun Chia ◽  
Xinran Chen ◽  
Tan Phat Pham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Exergaming has become an important part of community programs to promote regular exercise and improve well-being for healthy aging. This study examines how different types of social playing and competitive information in exergaming affect older adults’ inter-generational communication with youth, as well as their motivation to regular exercise through exergaming. A 2 (time: pre-test vs. post-test) * 3 (social play: play alone vs. play with elderly vs. play with youth) * 2 (competition: competition informed vs. non-competition informed) mixed experiment with 319 Singaporean older adults conducted over six weeks in 2018, analyzed through a series of three-way repeated ANOVAs. Results show significant three-way interaction effects among time, social type, and competitive information on older adults’ inter-generation communication (F (2, 300) = 3.206, p = .042, η2 = .021), extrinsic motivation (F (2, 301) = 3.364, p = .036, η2 = .022) and intrinsic motivation (F (2, 303) = 4.528, p = .012, η2 = .029). The inter-generational communication of participants in play with youth shows significant improvement over time in both competition conditions, while those in play with elderly was only significantly improved in competitive informed condition. Social play is found to significantly affect the changes of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation over time, while competitive information only affects intrinsic motivation significantly. The findings make contributions to aging research and understanding of potential factors that promote inter-generational communication and adherence to regular exercise via exergaming.

scholarly journals Current Evidence and Possible Future Applications of Creatine Supplementation for Older Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Darren G. Candow ◽  
Scott C. Forbes ◽  
Ben Kirk ◽  
Gustavo Duque
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Creatine Supplementation ◽  
Sarcopenic Obesity ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physical Frailty ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Aging Muscle

Sarcopenia, defined as age-related reduction in muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, is associated with other age-related health conditions such as osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, and cachexia. From a healthy aging perspective, lifestyle interventions that may help overcome characteristics and associated comorbidities of sarcopenia are clinically important. One possible intervention is creatine supplementation (CR). Accumulating research over the past few decades shows that CR, primarily when combined with resistance training (RT), has favourable effects on aging muscle, bone and fat mass, muscle and bone strength, and tasks of physical performance in healthy older adults. However, research is very limited regarding the efficacy of CR in older adults with sarcopenia or osteoporosis and no research exists in older adults with osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, or cachexia. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is (1) to evaluate and summarize current research involving CR, with and without RT, on properties of muscle and bone in older adults and (2) to provide a rationale and justification for future research involving CR in older adults with osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, or cachexia.

scholarly journals The INSPIRE research initiative: a program for GeroScience and healthy aging research going from animal models to humans and the healthcare system

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
P. de Souto Barreto ◽  
S. GUYONNET ◽  
I. Ader ◽  
S. Andrieu ◽  
L. Casteilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
World Health ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Research Initiative ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Clinical Gerontology ◽  
Health Organization

Aging is the most important risk factor for the onset of several chronic diseases and functional decline. Understanding the interplays between biological aging and the biology of diseases and functional loss as well as integrating a function-centered approach to the care pathway of older adults are crucial steps towards the elaboration of preventive strategies (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) against the onset and severity of burdensome chronic conditions during aging. In order to tackle these two crucial challenges, ie, how both the manipulation of biological aging and the implementation of a function-centered care pathway (the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) model of the World Health Organization) may contribute to the trajectories of healthy aging, a new initiative on Gerosciences was built: the INSPIRE research program. The present article describes the scientific background on which the foundations of the INSPIRE program have been constructed and provides the general lines of this initiative that involves researchers from basic and translational science, clinical gerontology, geriatrics and primary care, and public health.

scholarly journals Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Michiyo Tomioka ◽  
Kathryn L. Braun ◽  
Yan Yan Wu ◽  
Kay Holt ◽  
Paula Keele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Promotion Initiative

Introduction. Enhance®Fitness is a low-cost group exercise program designed specifically for older adults (60+ years) to improve physical performance. The Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership, a statewide health promotion initiative, has continuously offered Enhance®Fitness to Hawai‘i’s multicultural population since 2007. This study examined 12-month participation in and impact of Enhance®Fitness on physical performance among older adults in Hawai‘i. Method. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to analyze the physical performance measures (chair-stands, arm curls, and the up-and-go test) collected at baseline (month 0) and at 4, 8, and 12 months. We also compared the characteristics of participants who participated in the program for 12 months with those who dropped out in order to gain insights on participant retention. Results. Of 1,202 older adults with baseline data, 427 (35.5%) were continuously enrolled in Enhance®Fitness for 12 months and participated in follow-up data collection. On average, participants attended 63.7% of thrice-weekly classes each month. Participants’ physical performance measures improved after 4 months, continued to improve until 8 months, and were maintained thereafter. Besides continuous attendance, performance-measure improvements were associated with younger age, male gender, living with others (vs. alone), and fewer chronic conditions. Compared to those who completed 12 months of the program, the 775 who left the program over the course of the year were more likely to be younger, to be Caucasian (vs. Asian or Pacific Islander), to self-report depression as a chronic condition, and to have lower levels of fitness at baseline. Common reasons for dropping out were illness, relocation, time conflicts, lost interest, and transportation issues. Conclusions. Long-term participants in Enhance®Fitness initially improved and then maintained physical performance. Future research is needed to identify strategies to maintain enrollment of older adults in the exercise programs over time.

Learning is not decline

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ramscar ◽  
Peter Hendrix ◽  
Bradley Love ◽  
R. H. Baayen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Lexical Processing ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Empirical Record

As otherwise healthy adults age, their performance on cognitive tests tends to decline. This change is traditionally taken as evidence that cognitive processing is subject to significant declines in healthy aging. We examine this claim, showing current theories over-estimate the evidence in support of it, and demonstrating that when properly evaluated, the empirical record often indicates that the opposite is true. To explain the disparity between the evidence and current theories, we show how the models of learning assumed in aging research are incapable of capturing even the most basic of empirical facts of “associative” learning, and lend themselves to spurious discoveries of “cognitive decline.” Once a more accurate model of learning is introduced, we demonstrate that far from declining, the accuracy of older adults lexical processing appears to improve continuously across the lifespan. We further identify other measures on which performance does not decline with age, and show how these different patterns of performance fit within an overall framework of learning. Finally, we consider the implications of our demonstrations of continuous and consistent learning performance throughout adulthood for our understanding of the changes in underlying brain morphology that occur during the course of cognitive development across the lifespan.

scholarly journals Physical Inactivity in Older Adult Couples: A Dyadic Analysis Using Continuous In-Home Monitoring

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 412-412
Author(s):  
Chao-Yi Wu ◽  
Lyndsey Miller ◽  
Rachel Wall ◽  
Zachary Beattie ◽  
Jeffrey Kaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Home Monitoring ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Dyadic Analysis ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Aging Research

Abstract Many older adults remain inactive despite the known positive health implications of physical activity (e.g. improved mood, reduced mortality risk). Physical inactivity is a known interdependent phenomenon in couples, but the majority of research identifies determinants of physical inactivity at the individual level. We estimated the average amount of physical inactivity for older adult couples and, using dyadic analysis, identified physical and mental health determinants thereof. Forty-eight heterosexual older adult couples (mean age=70.6, SD=6.63) from the Veterans Integrated Service Network 20 cohort of the Collaborative Aging Research using Technology (CART) initiative were included in this study. Both dyad members wore actigraph devices for a month. The average number per day of inactive periods (defined as no movement or sleep activity for ≥ 30 minutes) was estimated. Multilevel modeling revealed that, within couples, there was no difference between partners in the average number of inactive periods, but on average across couples, males had more inactive periods per day (13.4, SD=4.43) than females (12.3, SD=4.87). For males, older age was the only variable associated with more inactive periods (β=0.13, p=.013). For females, more depressive symptoms in men were associated with fewer inactive periods (β=-0.37, p=.002), and more dependence in completing their own IADLs predicted more inactive periods (β=2.80, p<.001). All models were adjusted for covariates. Viewing couples’ activity as a unit, rather than as separate individuals, provides a novel approach to identifying pathways to reduce inactivity in older adults, especially when focusing on mental health issues and decreased independence within the couple.

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